Physique, Bodybuilding and Physical Culture

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Physique. Bodybuilding. Bodybuilder. Physical culture. We all know the words. Let’s take a look at how it all started— the evolution of not only the words themselves but also their meanings.

The practice of physical culture predates the general use of the barbell. In today’s terms, it was holistic—an umbrella that covered a wide range of activities from exercise to spirituality. Physical culture was much more along the lines of the Greek ideal of a strong mind in a strong body. When it was discovered that the barbell, which allowed for progressive-resistance training, was the most effective way to transform the body, it became the tool of choice for physical culture.

Read the rest of the entry at John’s Blog